Folding table



Jim@ 26, 1923;. l

A G; sMn-H FOLDING TABLE.

- imams Filed March v22 -1921 Patented .lune 26, 1923 titans rArENr orties.

ARTHUR G. SMITH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed March 22, 1921. Serial No. 454,350.

To all, whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have rinvented new and useful Improvements in F olding'Tables, of which thev following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding tables.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable table particularly'adapted for motorists, campers and the like that mayl be readily folded into 'a very compact form for transportation; the table comprising a top portion' and a standard, each adapted to be separably folded intocompact form,

the -coverf portion being adapted to serve as a casing for carrying` the standard yso that when the table is completely folded for transportation it presents a neat appearance with only the smooth surface of the table exposed.

Another object is to provide a table ofk the above character embodyinga ystandard adapted to be folded and disposed between two hinged coverportions of the table in such a manner that the parts willbe held securely to prevent vibration and rubbing of the parts when carried by hand orbeing transported in avehicle.` j

A further object of the invention is to provide a table of the above character which is exceptionally'strong and which may be made of comparatively few pieces, the na- -ture of the pieces being such that they may f be cut from standard size of lumber with practically no waste.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.` The invention is illustrated 'by the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a tablev embodying the features of` this inven y tion. l i

Figure 2 is aview in elevation of the table in inverted position.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective showing` the table completely folded `for transporting.

Figure 4 is a view in section as seenon the liney 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure is a view in section as seen on theline 5 5 of Figure 3.x j V..'Fig`ure 6 is a view in detail section as seen onv "the line 6-#6 onFigure 1.'

'More specifically 7 indicates a table top which is formed of two similar sections or panels 8 and 9, which are hinged together by hinges 10, placed on the under sides of these sections. The hinges are so positioned that the adjacent inner edges of the two sections abut one another when the table is open so as to present a smooth surface and to provide rigidity. The two sections 8 and 9, may be of any suitable construction or material but are here shown as composed of single pieces lof lumber of oblong shape which are preferably of such proportions that they may be cut fromv standard sizes of lumber without waste. Each of these sections is provided with two transverse cleats 11 and 12, disposed on the under side thereof. The hinges 10 are mounted upon these cleats, which are morticed so that the hing-es may be disposed below the surface of the cleats to permit of the two sections being folded together to assume a compact form. j

A standard 13, is providedfor `the purpose of supporting this table top, and comprises four legs 14, 15, 16, 1T, which are of any suitable material but preferably cut from lengths of standard size lumber with a miter cut, which results in the ends of the legs being disposed at an angle to the perpendiculanthe angle being preferably 45 degrees so that when the legs are disposed at that angle the surface 18, at each end extends in a horizontal plane and is thereby adapted to rest fully upon a smooth surface.

Two of the legs 15 and 16, are joined near their upper ends by a transverse tie-rod 19. which is of such length that the distance be tween the inner sides of the two legs is only slightly greater than the width of one section of the table top; for the purpose which will appear hereinafter. The other two legs 14 and 17, are also joined by a similar tierod20, which is somewhat longer than the tie-rod 19 to permit of the legs 15 and 16,

jointly, being disposed within thelegs 14,

' and 17. The tie-rods 19 and 20 are slightly longer than the width of the sections 8 and' 9 when the sections are folded together, so

` that the folded sections may fit between the posed about midway of their length, permitting the standard to be folded into the compact form shown in Figure 3.

The -transverse cleats have `one of their edges beveled inwardly at the same angle as the miter on the legs so t-hat a recess 24, is provided to receive the mitered end of the legs.

It is obvious that any weight coming upon the table or the legs will'tend to expand the standard with the result that the ends become more securely engaged with the inward-ly beveled cleats, The table top normally tends tohold the standard from collapsing as well as assuring loclredengagement therewith and provides an extremely rigid construction.

As afmeans 'forfu'rther securing the top to the standard a spring strip 25, is pivoted at its center to one of the sections ofthe ltop and isadapted to be swung into position to engage the transversetie-rods. The ends of the spring strip 25 are sprung-under the/tierods Vto force the tie-rods against the unfolded panels and prevent the possibility of the panels folding while'in-use. This strip may be'of any suitable material adapting it to be bent somewhat but to return yto its normal shape when released and is :prefer ably cutL from suitable dumber.

yIn the operation of folding the table this strip lis turneduntil it disengages from the tie-rods and springs back to its normal position -flat'aga'inst'the section to which 4it is fastened and is then turned so as. to vextend substantially parallel Ito theedge of that sectionso asnot tointerfere with thefolding off-the top. The 'standard is then closed partially so that the 'legs disenga-ge from the recesses whereupon the top is lifted from thestandard andfolded into the form .shown in Figure 5. The standard 'is then allowed to collapse eachtie-rod being-thendisposed at either end-of the folded standard.

It will be observed that whenthe Atop is folded the sections are spaced apart by the two cleats, the distance between the linner faces of the sections thus being equal tothe thickness'of two cleats. As a result a space 27, is provided at either end of the folded top which isthen placed ata slight angle to the folded standard as indicated by the brokenline inFigure 4, and one of the tierods is then introduced into rthe slot and thetop lis advanced over the tie-rod until the other'end is clear of the other 'tie-rod, whereupon 'the top is lowered until it is parallel with the folded standard. It is then retracted until the other of the tie-rods `is introduced into the other of the spaces. The folded top Ais thus -interlocked Vwith the standard-to forma compact portable unit as clearly `shown in Figure 3. To vhold the topi-n position-aboutfthe standard a wire-28 is provided which extends through one of the legs and is then bent at right angles to form a clip, which also serves to retain the standard in -folded form. To facilitate transporting of the foldedunit the same leg is provided with a light wire handle 29, which is pivotally mounted thereon.

lVhereas I have sho-'wn and described a specific embodiment of my invent-ion l do not limit myself to the exact details of construction shown vbutmay employ such other changes and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims without departing from `the spirit of the invention. For insta-nce l have shown and described a table but by changing the proportions the invention may be applied to a folding seat.

I claim:

l. A foldable table comprising a pair of panels, a Ypair of spaced alined cleats secured to the undersides of the ends of -said cleats and havinginwardly vbeveled inner edges, vhinges connecting the inner ends and lower sides of corresponding cleats to hinge the panels together; a Afoldable standard comprising two pairs of crossed leg members pivotally -conneoted at f-their :intersections, the upper ends of said members being pointed and adaptedv to extend `into the channels formed by the bevelled ledges of the cleats; tie-rods connecting athe `upper portions ofthe leg members of'o-ne pair with the upper portions of the leg members of the other pair so as to lie close to the lunder sides of the unfolded panels; `said tie-rods bein slightly longer than the lwidth of the pane s 'when folded; and .a spring Vstrip pivoted yat its center to on'eof the panels and adapted tofhave its ends sprung -under the tie-'rods to force the'tie-rods against f'the :uit

folded panels, to prevent the possibility of the panels l*foldingwhilefin use.

'2.A yfoldable tablecomprising 'a pair of panels, a pair of spacedfalined l'cleats' secured to the undersides'of the ends-ofsaid panels and having inwardly beveled inner edges, hinges connectingthe inner*v ends `and lower sides of corresponding cleats to hinge Vthe panels together, fa foldable standard coinprising two pairs of crossed leg members pivotally connected at their intersections, the upper ends g of .said lmembers being apoin'ted and adapted to .extend into the channels formed by the bevelled edges of the cleats; tie-rods connecting 'the upper portions of the leg members of one pair with'the upper portions -o`f the yleg Vmembers of fthe Yother pair so asto lie close to the-.undersides of the unfolded panels; said tieerods vbeing slightly longer than the ywidth of the panels when folded; and a spring strip pivoted at its center to one-of the panels and adapted to have its ends sprung atits center nto'one ofthe Zpanelsand adapted to have vitsends sprung under the "tie-rods to --force lSthe tierods against the unfolded panels, togprevent extend into the channels formed by the bevelled edges of the Cleats; tie rods oonnecting the upper portions of the leg inembers of one pair with the upper portions of the leg members of the other pair so as to lie close to the under sides of the unfolded panels; and a spring strip pivoted at its Center to one of the panels and adapted to have its ends sprung under the tie-rods to force the tie-rods against the unfolded panels, to prevent the possibility of the panels folding while in use.

A. Gr. SMITHe 

